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 Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » ARG: NoahBoddy
What is happening to the NB gamers?
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frangraves
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Joined: 06 Nov 2002
Posts: 56
Location: Texas

 		What is happening to the NB gamers?
Thus far I have personally witnessed three different players of this game start acting abnormally (at least it seems a bit abnormal to me). These players either left the game or were removed by TNB. Without a lot of experince with these games I have wondered if this is normal behavior for ARG type gamers or if this is unique to the NB game. And if this is unique to NB if these players simply got as bored with reading that journal as I did and started creating/adding to the characters in the game to make it more interesting (that, now, I could be thankful for Twisted Evil lol!)

I am hoping that the experienced ARG players here can fill me in on your thoughts regarding these occurences and whether I should expect similar behavior by the gamers when CTW starts. Thanks!
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 2:12 am
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vpisteve
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Joined: 30 Sep 2002
Posts: 2441
Location: 1987

 		Sure Fran, I'd be happy to give you my perspective on this.

It's my feeling that this sort of behavior is

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YOU WILL ALL DIE!!!!!








Rolling Eyes sorry, couldn't resist! Smile

PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 2:18 am
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Aveena
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Joined: 24 Sep 2002
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 		Fran, since Steve has apparently been possessed Shocked , let me jump in here....

One of the differences between NB and some of the more successful ARGs that have come along is that the primary playing forum for NB is owned by the PMs. They set it up, they moderate it (or don't). Since TNB has sole control over the group, there is no peer moderation of the posts/posters; therefore, the signal to noise ratio is low with useless 'me too' posts and flame wars, etc. (The same thing happened with the EPD group with Push, NV making the group complete useless.)

In an ARG where the PMs don't feel the need to control the player base, the tone of the group changes. It becomes a useful forum for exchanging spec and ideas and solving puzzles collectively instead of a place for bored people to wreak havoc (that's not to say there's no fun to be had, just that the group as a whole is more useful Very Happy ).

So, back to your question....

frangraves wrote:
Without a lot of experince with these games I have wondered if this is normal behavior for ARG type gamers or if this is unique to the NB game. And if this is unique to NB if these players simply got as bored with reading that journal as I did and started creating/adding to the characters in the game to make it more interesting (that, now, I could be thankful for Twisted Evil lol!)


It is probably a little of both 'unique to the NB game' and 'normal behavior for ARG type gamers'. Let me explain... I'm sure the NB game has lost players to boredom, frustration, whatever. If everyone was enthralled with the storyline and it was advancing at a pace that was satisfying to the players, I'd bet that the wacko behavior would not be as prominent. Also, if the NB group had good peer moderation, I bet the extraneous postings wouldn't be tolerated for long by the mods. As to it being 'normal behavior for ARG type gamers', I'd say yes it probably is since the typical ARG gamer IMO could be anyone. From what I've seen, this gaming community is very diverse and attracts all kinds (which includes people who could go off the deep end at any moment Wink )

As far as Chasing the Wish goes, I doubt this will be an issue if you join a group that is managed effectively. The main PM has experience running a game and I am sure that the game will be able to capture (and keep) the audience's attention. Also, as the PMs have stated again and again, once the game goes live, they will be behind the curtain and hands off. (Yay!)

PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 3:24 am
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vpisteve
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 		Okay, feeling much better. Don't know what happened there.

Seriously Fran, I'd have to agree with Aveena. To me, this is a prime example of how things can fall apart when the players have no power to moderate themselves.

See one of my earlier posts on the subject:

http://forums.unfiction.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=455

PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 4:37 am
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hmmingbird1948
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Joined: 08 Nov 2002
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Location: north of San Fran
Quote:
If everyone was enthralled with the storyline and it was advancing at a pace that was satisfying to the players, I'd bet that the wacko behavior would not be as prominent


Now, WHO could possible be "wacko"? Surely NOT me?? Aw, noooo..it couldn't be ME! You must be referring to some other wackos.( errr..I mean....uh.....you know....whatever.....) Wink Laughing Exclamation

PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 11:51 am
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frangraves
Boot

Joined: 06 Nov 2002
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Location: Texas

 		CTW Vs. NB Players
Aveena & Steve you have been very helpful. (Thanks first Aveena since Steve decided to visit one of his own alters before commenting Cool ) Wink

Aveena said:
"In an ARG where the PMs don't feel the need to control the player base, the tone of the group changes. It becomes a useful forum for exchanging spec and ideas and solving puzzles collectively"

I also read your earlier post Steve (you back with us friend Question Cool ) In reading that post it appears Laughing that you and Aveena are proponents of group moderators being in control of the group unlike what is happening with the PM's control at NB. I could completely agree that "player" control would be more effective than PM control since most ingroup TNB posts simply make me personally feel mad Mad while a fellow players posts whose "job" is to help the players stay on task would not make me feel like "big brother" was watching over my shoulder the whole time Sad . Now my next question follows this subject. While playing Push I was in three smaller groups in addition to the Yahoo group. In one of those groups we had a moderator that was way way too strict and many good players left the group in anger because of his antics/tactless behavior. Evil or Very Mad Are the gamers "stuck" with a bad moderator? For example, I find the headers such as Meta/off topic etc... useful but sometimes the players can forget during times of excitement and this particular moderator would post some pretty harsh stuff about anyone who forgot the headings or anyone who voiced an idea that may not be totally in conjuction with that particular stage of the show/game (spec he did not agree with). The first time in my life I heard someone literally call someone else a "nazi" was in this group and for awhile I too worried that he may well have really been a believer in that dogma until someone explained that word is a commonly-used negative term for overly strict moderators.

When I played CTW MQ with you guys the game stayed on task and I had a blast ( Laughing ) but there wasn't a moderator per se (or at least not a noticable one) so can you describe what a good moderator is like and whether a group is stuck with a bad one? In a yahoo group the "owner" of the group chooses the moderator so in an ARG game is the game normally played in a "yahoo group" too? If not, where are the games played out and how are the moderators chosen?

I apologize for all these questions on board here. I will say that those players who are newbies like me could learn a lot from ya'lls answers and this may nip in the bud any potential problems with any current NB players (or ex-players mentioned earlier) who will be switching to CTW when it starts Very Happy

Again, I can not thank you enough for helping me (and some others) understand how things "usually" are handled in ARG's Exclamation
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 12:19 pm
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frangraves
Boot

Joined: 06 Nov 2002
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Location: Texas

 		Now, WHO could possible be "wacko"? Surely NOT me?? Aw, noooo..it couldn't be ME! You must be referring to some other wackos.( errr..I mean....uh.....you know....whatever.....) Wink Laughing Exclamation[/quote]


FOTFL! (Guilty conscious huh Question Wink ) I do believe you are still a player over at NB so that would leave you out of the three players mentioned ealier who were removed or left the group. Sorry, if you thought I meant you Embarassed Hopefully all of us can learn a lot from Aveena and Steve's answers before CTW starts so we will not be disappointed in our expectations of that game because we will have a pretty good idea of what to expect Very Happy and not to expect from the players and the PM's Smile
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 12:25 pm
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frangraves
Boot

Joined: 06 Nov 2002
Posts: 56
Location: Texas

 		Thanks each of you!
I think that post was perfect! In length and explanation! Thanks so very very much to all three of you guys because you are correct in that I did do some research first but to no avail. I am very excited about CTW but didn't want to get my "feelings" tied up in the game if something similar to the trouble the two yahoo boards I have been in will happen again. (NB & Push). I have to agree that Space Bass is not only what I would consider leadership material BUT he is also a gentleman and maybe between all you old pros we will all have lots and lots of fun playing CTW. I am glad there aren't any prizes! I like "team" sports and "group" players (probably because I can't figure these out on my own Rolling Eyes ) so maybe without the lore of moneatary gains the people playing be will doing so for the pure fun of it and that by itself will generate a different environment for the game than either NB or Push Laughing .
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PostPosted: Mon Dec 16, 2002 10:09 pm
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